671 Quotes by Robert Green Ingersoll

In the grave should be buried the prejudices and passions born of conflict. Charity should hold the scales in which are weighed the deeds of men.

At the bottom of religious persecution is the doctrine of self-defence; that is to say, the defence of the soul. If the founder of Christianity had plainly said: 'It is not necessary to believe in order to be saved; it is only necessary to do, and he who really loves his fellow-men, who is kind, honest, just and charitable, is to be forever blest' - if he had only said that, there would probably have been but little persecution.

Diderot took the ground that, if orthodox religion be true Christ was guilty of suicide. Having the power to defend himself he should have used it.

Every church that has a standard higher than human welfare is dangerous.

It always has been and forever will be impossible for slavery or any kind or form of injustice to produce a great poet.

I would rather be a beggar and spend my money like a king, than be a king and spend money like a beggar.

Ignorance worships mystery; reason explains it; the one grovels, the other soars.

It is what people do not know that they persecute each other about.

The God of hell should be held in loathing, contempt and scorn. A god who threatens eternal pain should be hated, not loved; cursed, not worshipped. A heaven presided over by such a god must be below the meanest hell.